La Salle Catholic College Preparatory taps into solar energy | OregonLive.com

La Salle Catholic College Preparatory taps into solar energy | OregonLive.com

La Salle Catholic College Preparatory taps into solar energy

By Nicole Dungca, The Oregonian

April 03, 2010, 7:00AM

View full sizeBRENT WOJAHN/THE OREGONIANFacilities manager Bill George was the main force behind La Salle Catholic College Preparatory’s solar panels, the latest project of its kind to hit Portland area schools. The black, thin-film panels could save the school about $10,000 to $15,000 in energy costs when the school purchases the system.
MILWAUKIE -- At La Salle Catholic College Preparatory, it wasn't easy going green.

Former Principal Bill George first explored solar paneling when he picked up his facilities manager title two years ago, but financing shortages and a recession halted two projects in their tracks.

Turns out the third time was the charm for the Milwaukie school. In January,Oregon Electric Group installed a solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the school's 116,400-square-foot building, making it the latest Portland metro school to harness solar energy.

The black, thin-film solar panels were funded and are owned by FutureSource Capital Corp., a subsidiary of the North Dakota-based energy and transportation infrastructure company MDU Resources, but the school will have the option of purchasing the system in six years.

The 98-kilowatt system should provide about 10 to 20 percent of the school's power, according to George. If the school purchases the system from FutureSource, the estimates point to $10,000 to $15,000 in energy savings each year. The school pays about $75,000 for power annually, according to George.

La Salle paid no upfront costs for the project, but purchases the power from FutureSource, according to project manager Matt Saager of Oregon Electric Group, who helped broker the deal. Oregon Electric Group also is affiliated with MDU Resources.

Schools going solar

La Salle's foray into solar energy follows other area schools. Clackamas High installed solar panels on its roof several years ago, and Portland Public Schools undertook